Street-indicator for street-cars.



A. A. WINKL ER.

STREET INDICATOR FOR STREET CARS,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 191s.

" Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1- A N\ iwk m ETXV MN Gnome? AKA. WINKLER. STREET INDICATOR FOR STREET CARS. APPLICATION rlLaq'siPnzz, 1915.

1,254,954. Patented Jan. 29,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A. A. WINKLER. STREET INDICAIOR FORSTREET CARS. APPLICATIONHLED SEPT-27. I915- 1,254,954. Patented Jan. 29,1918.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

A. A. WINKLER.

STREET INDICATOR FOR STREET CARS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27, 1915.

1 54,954. Patented Jan. 29, 1918.

4 $HEET$-$HEET 4- ammwto'c pnrrnn srnrns rn'rnn'r orat on.

ADOLF A. WINKLER, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

STREET-INDICATOR FOR STREET-CARS.

Application filed. September 27, 1915. Serial No. 52,851.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADoLF A. WINKLER, a subject of the German Empire. residing at Great Falls, in the county of Cascade and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Street-Indicators for Street-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in card, picture, and sign exhibiting, and. more specifically to street indicators for street cars.

The object of my invention is to provide an indicator which will automatically display to the passenger upon a street car the name of each succeeding street upon the route being traversed by the car. It is a well known fact that the public is greatly inconvenienced and strangers are at an absolute lossto know when they are approaching their destination because of the fact that the conductors either do not call the street at all, or announce them in such a manner that the names cannot be understood by the passengers. It is therefore of great importance to have a visual indicator that will display the street names as such streets are being approached in time for the passengers to give the stop signal. My device is designed to accomplish this in an elfective manner, and is so constructed as to embody the features of simplicity, durability, and economy in construction and operation. My device may also be used with equal efficacy upon all manner of electric driven trains, as well as elevators in buildings.

Other objects of this invention not at this time more particularly enumerated, will he clearly understood from the detailed description and drawings forming a part of this application.

Furthermore, this invention consists in the novel arrangement and combination ofparts more particularly described in the following specification and embodied in the claims appended hereunto and forming a part of this application.

Referring now to the drawings, which are merely illustrative of my invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved street indicator for street cars.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the front cover plate removed.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. at is a similar view taken on the line Jr-4: of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2, showing the direction of travel of the tape.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the arrangement of the electrical parts of my invention.

Fig. 8 is a detail view of the electromagnetic brake.

Fig. 9 is a detail elevation of one of the roller bearings.

Fig. 10 is a detail side elevationof the obstacle contact trip.

Fig. 11 is an edge elevation thereof.

Fig. 12 is a detail side elevation of the contact plate.

Fig. 13 is a plan view thereof. 7

My invention comprises. generally, a route tape mounted upon a spool roller adapted to pass over guide rollers and be wound upon a second spool roller. The lettering upon the tape is so spaced that one revolution of the guide rollers will move it such a distance as will effect the displaying of the next succeeding street name. The invention further comprises electrically controlled means for automatically stopping the tape upon one revolution of said guide rollers, for reversing the direction of travel of said tape, and for completely rewinding the same.

More specifically, 1 designates a .casing provided with ends removable to permit access to the adjustable parts of the device. A'main window or transparent member 2 is located centrally of the front face of said casing 1 through whichmay be read the name of'the street toward which the car'is approaching. Frosted glass signs 3 are lo cated in the front of said casing adjacent the opposite ends of said window 2, said. signs containing the name of the car line upon which the indicator is located.

My device is provided with a double bearing support 4 near the rear of said casing 1, and interposed between the bottom and top thereof, there being mounted upon said support drive gears 5 provided each with a centrally located squared recess. The lowermost of said gears is formed with a series of sockets 6 spaced apart circumferentially within the outer face thereof. A plurality of spool rollers 7 are provided having squared trunnions 8 upon their adjacent Patented Jan. 29,1918. j

I 5, while the opposite ends of said rollers are -mounted upon pivoted bearings 9 which may be disengaged therefrom by releasing the supporting catches 10 which are adapted to retain said pivoted hearings in engagement with the ends of said rollers. When it is desired to remove the rollers, it is only necessary to release the supporting catch and swing the pivoted bearing outwardly from the end of the roller, whereby said roller maybe withdrawn from the casing. Each of said rollers is formed with a hook 11 centrally with respect to the length thereof.

Double bearing supports 12 are mounted forwardly of said spool rollers 7, said bear- -ing supports having mounted therein guide rollers 13 spaced apart one above the other. Said guide rollers are formed with studs 1% circumferentiallyspaced apart near the ends thereof.

A route tape 15, constructed of anysuit able transparent material, has printed thereon consecutively the street names of the car route being followed by the particular car upon which. the indicator is installed. Said tape is I formed with a perforation (not shown) centrally disposed near both ends thereof, said perforations being adapted to engagewith the hooks 1-1 respectively upon the spool rollers 5. Said-tape is also formed With ..a plurality of spaced perforations 16 upon both sidesand along the length there- ;of, said perforations being adapted to en gage with the studs 14 :uponthe guide rollers 13. V

Tension rollers 17 aremounted between the spool rollers 5 and thezguide rollers 10, said rollers 17 being carried bythe free .ends of arms .18,'the latter being pivoted to the double bearing support 12. Coil tension springs 19 are interposed between said tension-rollers, the tape 15 being-passed beneath the ,uppermost of said tension rollersand .ove-rthe lowermost of said tension rollers @wherehy'thesaid tape is maintained in a perfectly "smooth and taut state, :as'illusrated; in Fig. of the drawings.

as electric-motorx20 is mounted within said'casing nearone end thereof and a chive pining 121Imountedupon the shaft of-said .inotoris adapted to mesh with the lowermost the lowermost of said gears 5. The face of the free end of said contact arm is formed witha semi-spherical boss 25 which, when engaged with one of the sockets 6 formed in the face of said gear will act as a brake thereon. Said contact arm is normally retained in engagement with said gear by means of a spring tension member 26 secured at one end thereof to the free end of said arm and at the other end to an L-shaped anchor member 27.

A standard 28 is mounted within said casing near one end of the rollers 7 and 13. A three-point stopping switch 29 of the standard pull type is mounted upon the upper end of said standard, there beingsecured therein, a spring, not shown, to normally --hold the switch in operative position. An. L-shaped contact arm 30 extends downwardly therefrom and its shorterarm is disposed forwardly to a point adjacent vthelower portion of the lowermost of said guide rollers 13. A wiper 31 is eccentrically mounted upon the end of said roller 13 whereby said arm will be actuated downwardly upon. each revolution of said roller 13.

The arm is normally held in raised position by the spring in the switch. T he switch will not be thrown until the disk is moved to the position shown on. Fig. 4 of. the drawing, whereupon the arm will be pushed downwardly and thespring in the switch will pull-t-he-same. As soon as the disk asses the center, the arm 30 will be moved upwardly by the tension ofthe spring and the switch will once more resume its original position. i

A three-point starting switch 32 is mounted upon a standard 33 near said stopping switch 29, said starting switch being actuated by means of an electro-magnet 34 mounted beneath. said starting switch I and connected thereto by an armature go operatively disposed above said inagnetand connecting rod 36 .lnterpesed between the free endof said, arm, and said switch; The

armature 35 is-a spring armsecured tothe casing-and-normally disposed out of engagement with the electromagnet. Ar -metallic plate 37 s mounted within said casingata point forwardly thereof and slightly above thelowermost of. said guide rollers 13. A plurality of lamp sockets .38

are mounted inspaced apart relationupon said plate, electric lamps 39 being mounted in saidsockets. Thelamp near the end of the casing where the motor islocated may be mounted horizontally upon a vertically disposed standard/LO in the event that said mo: tor consumes so much space as to make it impracticable to mount the lamp directly in front thereof. From this it is obvious that the end lamps are-directlyto therear ofthe glass 1 signs 3, ,and that the intermediate said pole an insulator 47.

My device is controlled by a series of switches arranged in circuit with the various parts thereof. The controlling switches are conveniently located in a switch boX in the car, and consist of a pair of fused knife switches 48 and 49, a double-throw doublepole switch 50 for reversing the rotation of the motor, and a four-point switch'51 for completely rewinding the route tape 15.

One of the main fused switches 48 is connected in circuit with the electro-magnet 34 controlling the starting switch 32, while one of the fused terminals is connected to the trip member 44 on the trolley pole 45 by means of a wire 52, while the other terminal is connected with the ground wire 53.

The switch 49 is connected by means of conductors 48 and 49 to the electric-motor 20, the four-pole double throwswitch 50 being interposed in the motor circuits to reverse the direction of the motor as desired. This switch and its connections are of a standard form and will not be described in detail. The lamps 39 are shown interposed in a circuit a controlled by a switch S.

In order to control the motor'automatically I have provided the three-pole switches 29 and 32, the switch 32 being controlled by the electro-magnet 34, said electro-magnet being interposed in conductors 50 leading from the knife switch 48. Conductors 53 and 54 serve to carry the current from the starting switch to the terminals of the rewinding switch 51, said conductors being continued as at 55 and 56 and connected to the stopping switch 29. The conductor 48' continues on the far side of the stopping switch and is connected with one of the arms of the motor reversing switch 50. The electro'magnets 22 are shunted across and operate in a manner which will hereinafter. appear.

In operation the switches 48 and 49 are closed permanently and the switch 50 set whereby the motor will turn in the proper direction for winding the tape. When one of the contact arms 44 engages the trip on the trolley wire current will flow through the conductor 52 to the conductor 50 energizing the electromagnets 34. When the electromagnets 34 are energized the switch will be moved to a given position, said position being opposite to that of the stopping switch, so that current will flow, in one instance through the conductor 53, switch 51,

conductor 55 and then through the switch 29 to the reversing switch 50. This supplies current to the motor 20 and also the electro-magnet 22. The action of the electro-inagnet 22 and the motor is practically simultaneous, butthe brake member will quickly disengage from the roller and permit the motor to rotate the same, exhibiting the next stop. The mechanism of the starting and stopping switches is of a standard make now in use and need not be described in detail herein. If it is desired to rewind the tape when the car is to return, or for "any other reason, the switch 51 will be thrown from the position shown to connect the conductors 54 and 56 thereby delivering current to the motor. Of course, it is necessary "that the reversing switch be moved to the position necessary to cause the rewinding of the tape.

As has bee-n hereinbefore stated, the armature of the electromagnet 34 comprises a spring arm, that is normally held out of engagement with the magnet, and when in such position the switch. 32 is in normalposition, and the motor is out of the operating circuit. When the switch 49 is'closed, and the electromagnet energized by operation of the tripping mechanism, that makes the contact with the trolley wire, the armature 35 will be drawn down and the switch 32 thrown. This will operate the motor and consequently start the indicator to wind. The shunt circuit through the conductor 60 to the electromagnet 34 will keep the said electromagnet energized, when the contact is broken with the trolley wire, until the indicator tape has moved the required distance.

When. the tape has been wound the required distance the arm 30 that is operated by the eccentrically mounted wiper disk 31, will throw the switch 29 temporarily, thereby breaking the circuit and stopping the operation of the indicator. This will likewise release the armature 35 of the electromagnet 34 and return the switch 32 to normal position. The braking mechanism which then has been applied will stop the indicator. When the switch 29 once more returns to normal operative position the various parts of the device are in position to operate once more upon. contact being made with the trolley wire.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a changeable exhibitor, the combinaiqeengae mentwith;on e theerelllersesaid hlgakeia'daptecl to'be released when acurrent :igsapplied to the motor circuit.

22- lnac w able bitQ ,thecQmb mioawith route tapea 1'01 er p which said tape isto be wound, a ;motor,- and;means oonnecting the rollers peratively with the nlotQr to be driven thereby, of asupply circuit, 1 a, branchci-rcuit, magnetically operable means int p sed-inzth b anc ir u t elosethe oircuit of -the;motor,- ;a ;b1:ake for engagement w' th one of the rollers .-when said; metonst ps, a ele tre-magnet shun-ted gfiLQlQSS the motor circuit and operable to :Withclnaw s iduh akefltom e gag m n -Wit :the roller wh n the:m0t01' inc,ui "i L closed -forrthe purpes u pe ed- 3. Ina change ble exhibito th Q:m 5 tion with a -.1:oete1tape and rollers alpon which said tape is to be w;ou;nd a g notor, andmeans ieonnecti glth -te lers .openatively with the motor to be driven therehy, of a supply Cil? 1 ,.a me -ieireuit, magnetical y p a m an e posed aim the -hlzaneh ithe emete i ic aft slfevelutie o -saidrolle -to step-f b zm ieer,

engageable with. one of the rollers, said brake being disengaged f om pemt e P b. bywmflgn tw m an cemmunma me W th the motor cu'cu t and ada-pted'to be energized when the motor is-started.

,I-n a ehangeableexhibitor, LhQOQIjl-blnfitlon with .-a route vtape and rollers on means connecting the rollers loperatively w1th;the motor'to beodriven thereby, of a te tposed in series wi h Sa d-start ngswitch,

-Saiclstartingit hbe ng operable by sai cl e-lectroanagnet -when the branch clreuit 1s enelfgi fidgz antelectno-magnetic brake operable to release the rollers upon ener i zation of zthe motor oireuits, vand a cloub e;- throAV sw tch i terposedobetween .said sta ing and -;stoppin-g switohes to oonrqoletel-y newind the :tape -.;w;h ;en requ red.

testimony whereof :j I, aflixr signature hereto.

W NKLEB- 

